We would particularly like to congratulate Simon Lawrence who is named a "Next Generation Lawyer" in the rankings.

The Legal 500 comments as follows:

Crime

The ‘competent and conscientious solicitors’ at Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP ‘can be trusted to fight hard for the best possible result’. The firm specialises in pre-charge investigation cases, and also handles appellate and extradition work. Managing partner Rakeebah Rahim is ‘a real strategic thinker who is always five steps ahead of the opposition’; Deniz Oguzkanli ‘is known for his expertise in human trafficking matters’; and Piers Desser is ‘a safe pair of hands in all cases’.

Fraud: White Collar Crime

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP has ‘a strong reputation for being able to deal with the most serious and complex cases’ and ‘is a firm you can trust to fight hard for the best possible result’. The team regularly handles pre-charge investigation cases, and is adept at dealing with multi-faceted fraud cases with an international dimension, and has notably acted for a foreign government in a cross-border fraud dispute valued at several billion US dollars. Rakeebah Rahim heads the department and is ‘a real strategic thinker who is always five steps ahead of the opposition’. Deniz Oguzkanli is the other key lawyer, and is ‘brilliant for export control and sanctions matters’.

Commercial Property

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP has a ‘large team with some very senior and experienced solicitors’ who ‘focus on getting the deal done and providing good and strategic advice’. The practice is particularly known for its expertise in hotel-and-leisure related matters, with practice co-head Sarah Hung who ‘really knows the restaurant industry’, displaying ‘great attention to detail’; and senior associate Simon Lawrence ‘highly sought after for his expertise in development and hotels’. The team was also active in the residential sector, where it advised key client Dominvs Property Developments on a number of investment and development mandates. Other key figures include practice co-head John O'Callaghan, whose ‘25 years’ experience ensure that the most complex cases proceed with speed’; and newly promoted partner Paul Cain, whose ‘knowledge in each sector is unrivalled’.

Property Finance

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP’s ‘sizeable, responsive and very knowledgeable’ team counts portfolio refinancing and bridging finance as key strengths. Clients include C. Hoare & Co, Svenska Handelsbanken and Keystone Holdings. John O’Callaghan is ‘intelligent, experienced and reassuring’, and ‘exceptionally talented’ Far East expert Sarah Hung pays ‘great attention to detail’; they head the team jointly with Afsheen Nasr, who made partner in October 2016. Senior associate Simon Lawrence, who frequently leads on deals, is ‘calm, knowledgeable and impressively speedy’; senior associate Tamara Manojlovic is also recommended. Paul Cain, who is particularly active on the borrower side, made partner in July 2016.

Property Litigation

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP’s team has ‘a unique dynamic’ with ‘a well-integrated and exceptionally talented property litigation team’. The group is jointly headed by ‘excellent tactician’ Rudi Ramdarshan, Jonathan Roberts, whose ‘outstanding qualities include incredible commercial acumen and an ability to solve the most intractable of cases’, and newly promoted partner David Burns, who is ‘a charming yet aggressive litigator’. Ramdarshan is recognised for his lease renewal expertise, Roberts is a key name for adverse possession work and Burns regularly handles lease extensions and collective enfranchisement issues. Recent highlights include acting for EDHI International Foundation in a commercial forfeiture case, handling a case concerning the right of first refusal including enfranchisement elements, and advising Keystone Holdings on development issues including right to light issues.

Commercial Litigation

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP is ‘a highly competent practice’. It is noted for high-level, international contractual and corporate disputes. Jonathan Roberts ‘can solve the most intractable of cases’; Rudi Ramdarshan is ‘an excellent lawyer who is extremely effective’; and commercial and employment disputes specialist Rebecca Roberts was made partner.

We encourage you to contact us in the first instance if you are unhappy with the service you receive from us. Contact John O’Callaghan, the complaints partner at j.ocallaghan@rfblegal.co.uk; alternatively in some circumstances you may be able to make use of the ODR platform.